Baha’i Conversion Activities in Nashik

The Baha’is always deny that we are not involved in the conversion of Indians but we are just trying to serve the society by conducting moral classes for the Children and Junior Youth. Here is a report from a Baha’i Auxiliary Board Member published in a Baha’i Newsletter {Reflections on Growth––Number 28, December 2011} The report says the Baha’i propagandists have gone to the villages had a meeting and got their declaration, that states that they have accepted the Baha’i Faith and believe in Baha’u’llah as the manifestation of God of this age and Abdul Baha as his successor. The acceptance of the Baha’i Faith implies that they have abandoned Hinduism. These villagers are taught that “you have gained promotion in Hinduism not left it”. How long the Baha’is and their Administration will keep on cheating the simple minded Indians.

An Auxiliary Board member reports on how the friends in an advanced cluster area assisting a neighboring cluster in efforts to initiate a program of growth and pass the first milestone.

“It was decided in our reflection meeting in Nashik that a team would visit the Surgana cluster to assist the two dedicated young men who had pioneered there about three months ago. We formed a team of five – three men and two women – and headed to Surgana so that we could help with home visits that evening.

Converting Hindus in India just outside a Hindu Temple

We had a wonderful discussion with the pioneers about the current activities, the vision presented in the 28 December message, and how to pursue it. I felt that these two souls had come a long way over the past three months of pioneering in that they had attained such clarity in their thinking. They also expressed love for their pioneering post and for the people, and one pioneer said, “I would not mind my bones being buried here.”

We made a plan for the home visits and teaching and headed out to visit families in Surgana proper. All together we made six home visits, and the families were all large, educated, and VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE FAITH. I am sure that in the near future they will play a great part in building this community. They love the pioneers, which shows that the youth have been serving in the right way, and soon THEY WILL SURELY JOIN THE ENDEAVORS OF THE FAITH.

We then visited a village in the cluster, Wadpara, where a Baha’i family lives. In the village some youth had participated in an institute campaign and completed Books 1 to 3.

They knew we were coming and were eagerly waiting for us. Of the 14 participants in the campaign, two were junior youth and the rest above 15. Since there was no electricity, we sat in the dim light of kerosene lamps, but could clearly see the light of faith in their eyes. One of the pioneers said it was time for prayers. It was unbelievable how many prayers, in six different languages, were chanted without a moment’s hesitation, one after the other! It brought tears of joy to our eyes to see these youths so joyful and reciting prayers, some long and difficult, with reverence. It was an amazing experience and we were reminded of what the House of Justice has written about the potential existing in villages.

I THEN ASKED ONE OF THE PIONEERS IF HE HAD THOUGHT OF ASKING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN THE FAITH AND BECOME PART OF THIS GREAT WORK WE’RE DOING. HE SAID THAT HE HADN’T, SO I ASKED IF HE WANTED TO DO IT TONIGHT BECAUSE BY COINCIDENCE I HAD MANY DECLARATION CARDS WITH ME. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION, 12 OF THE YOUTHS HAPPILY DECLARED THEIR FAITH. ALL OF THEM ARE GOING TO JOIN THE NEXT INSTITUTE CAMPAIGN TO CONTINUE WITH THE SEQUENCE OF COURSES.

This cluster has great potential. I know that the feet of “many great teachers” have trodden in this area, but I feel sure that the systematic growth that is happening now is thanks to the sincere and systematic efforts of the homefront pioneers and also the support from the friends from Nashik. Initiating a Program of Growth in a Cluster Where a Few Baha’is Already Reside: In many clusters identified for programs of growth, a few Baha’is may live there, but the activity has been limited and the institute process has not taken root. A number of stories from different parts of the world describe the enthusiastic response members of institutions receive when they visit such communities and share with the friends a vision of growth that can unfold in their clusters.”